News from Disability Access Services – what's happening with us and around OSU

Halloween and respect for other cultures

A message for the OSU community from Dr Tracy Bentley-Townlin, Associate Dean for Student Life & Director of Disability Access Services.

As we move towards Halloween, I want to remind our community of OSU’s commitment to diversity: “OSU understands diversity is essential to excellence and therefore commits itself to integrating core institutional values of diversity, integrity, respect, social responsibility, and accountability into every dimension of the University’s life (http://oregonstate.edu/leadership/strategic-plan).

As you engage in activities deemed to recognize Halloween, I encourage you to be mindful of how you celebrate and whether or not your costume selection is harmful to others. One example of what is meant by being harmful to others can be found at Ohio State University which has initiated the campaign, “We’re a culture, not a costume,” which can be found here: http://lissawriting.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/racism-think/

As with all social and academic activities, please respect each other, our community and have a safe Halloween weekend.